Since the pandemic began, space and availability are tight. Carriers are in high demand and now more than ever, have more options on the organizations that they work with. While shippers, are creating a variety of strategies to make them a “shipper of choice” and establishing a relationship with carriers to help move their freight, while attempting to avoiding sky-high rate increases.
As a shipper, if you can live up to high freight volume commitments and prove to your carriers your dedication, especially before the market shifted, you are probably in a good place. Not to fret, there are several things’ shippers can do now, to improve their carrier relationship and access to capacity.
To be a “shipper of choice”, it is important for companies to create carrier-friendly spaces and policies. According to Freightwaves, this can range from providing basic amenities such as clean bathrooms and access to water, to deeper operational changes like flexible appointment windows and reduced detention time. All these things are important; however, they are not the only ways shippers can depend on and build relationships with their providers.
As a shipper, being transparent can provide a better and more long-lasting partnership, especially if a shipper can consistently provide their next move. When shippers create more predictability, consistency, and structure within their freight networks and capacity, it is easier to build long-lasting partnerships with reliable transportation providers.
According to Freightwaves, most shippers struggle to evolve or change their operations while maintaining the day-to-day functionality and execution of their business. Managing change can be especially difficult in tight market conditions when cross functional departments may lack communications and collaboration. This issue is overwhelmed by the fact that many shippers have a series of data silos within their own organizations, making it difficult to implement a carrier and freight optimization strategy.
Ultimately, shippers hoping to become the best possible solution for carriers need to invest in their own business first. Driving out waste, increasing inefficiencies, being transparent, and creating more structure in the organization, has the potential to benefit everyone involved, not just the shipper themselves.
If you have any questions about what to look for in a shipper, contact our team today!
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